A RAPIST whose victim confronted him about his conduct decades after suffering at his hands stated that he “deserves to be in prison”, a court has heard.

Philip Lindsay, 68, made the admission after being interviewed by social workers commissioned to write a report about his behaviour.

The High Court in Edinburgh previously heard how Lindsay handed himself into police after meeting with the woman he repeatedly abused between 1992 and 1998.

The meeting took place in a branch of KFC in Meadowbank, Edinburgh, and she told him that she was “in control” and was going to the police.

Lindsay, of Tranent, pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, last month.

Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports and today (Tuesday) defence advocate Kenneth Cloggie told judge Lord Boyd that Lindsay knew what he did was wrong.

Speaking moments before Lindsay was jailed for five years and four months, Mr Cloggie said that his client showed remorse for his crimes during an interview with court-appointed social workers.

He added: “Mr Lindsay made a clear statement – he said that he deserves to be in prison. In his opinion, that is the only appropriate sentence available in this case.”

At proceedings last month, prosecution lawyer Derick Nelson told the court that the woman plucked up enough courage to confront Lindsay and say a speech she prepared in advance.

Mr Nelson added: “The complainer began to read from her speech, telling the accused: ‘What you done to me when I was an innocent child was so wrong. You groomed and sexually abused me, then blamed me, a child.

“'You are a predator. I’m an adult now and I’m in control. I’ll now take this further. I’m going to report you.'

“The accused stated that he knew that he had done it and that he was sorry. The complainer told the accused to ‘shut up’ because all she wanted was to say her piece and leave.

“The meeting between the complainer and the accused lasted for around two minutes.

“The accused said to the complainer’s friend: ‘I knew this day was going to come.’"

Mr Nelson told judge Lord Boyd that the girl was aged just 10 when the abuse began.

Mr Nelson told the court that Lindsay’s victim’s recollection was “hazy” but she could remember some of the details about the attacks.

On Tuesday, Mr Cloggie said that Lindsay had once worked as a bricklayer but started drinking heavily after losing his job.

He also said that his client had suffered from poor mental health.

Mr Cloggie added: “The report also shows that Mr Lindsay displays some insight into what went wrong.

“During the mid-1980s, he worked as a self-employed bricklayer. He lost his job and he started drinking heavily.

“It is clear that his drinking, his poor mental health and the abuse went hand in hand.”

Lord Boyd told Lindsay that if he hadn’t pleaded guilty, he would have received an eight-year jail term.

He added: “This was not a lapse of judgement. It was a persistent course of conduct over a period of six years.

“Your actions have caused her long-standing damage – she has difficulty forming relationships.

“The lost innocence of childhood can never be recovered.

“The headline sentence will be one of five years and four months.”

Lindsay was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for an indefinite period.